Uganda to relaunch National Lottery after poor first-year performance
The NLGRB is conducting an exit audit of the former operator while preparing to appoint a new company to run Uganda’s National Lottery.
Uganda.- Uganda is preparing to relaunch its National Lottery after the previous operator failed to meet its first-year performance projections and ceased operations on June 30, 2026.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) disclosed the development while responding to questions from Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over a significant shortfall in non-tax revenue reported for the 2024/25 financial year.
The regulator attributed the shortfall primarily to the National Lottery, saying its first-year performance was substantially below projections because the operator failed to gain sufficient market traction.
The operator subsequently ended its operations on June 30, with NLGRB now conducting an exit audit to determine its outstanding obligations and oversee the closure process.
The regulator said the next step will be to relaunch the National Lottery with a new operator rather than leave the national lottery operation inactive.
The move gives the Board an opportunity to reassess the lottery’s operating model and select an operator capable of building sufficient market demand to meet future projections.
The revenue issue was among several matters examined when NLGRB appeared before COSASE on August 26. The committee was reviewing issues raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/25 financial year, while also examining the regulator’s broader performance and oversight responsibilities.
The National Lottery’s performance is significant to the regulator’s revenue position because its failure to reach projected levels contributed to the wider deficit in non-tax revenue collections during the financial year.
At the same time, the NLGRB is seeking to increase revenue from the wider regulated gaming sector through stronger compliance and digital monitoring. Uganda’s gaming regulator has been working on technical standards, product classification and approval as part of efforts to strengthen oversight of the market.
The National Lottery relaunch will form part of the NLGRB’s efforts to restore the lottery’s contribution to government revenue after the previous operator’s underperformance.
NLGRB said the exit audit will establish the former operator’s outstanding obligations before the closure is finalised. The regulator did not disclose a timeline for appointing a new operator or provide details of the relaunch process.
The incoming operator will be expected to expand participation and improve the lottery’s financial performance.
